No decision on GuySuCo without opposition, unions’ input - Ramjattan

The government will review and consider all proposals put forward by the opposition PPP/C, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) to determine the way forward for the beleaguered Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Vice President and Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan said yesterday.

Ramjattan gave the assurance when the government continued its consultations with stakeholders yesterday at the Ministry of Agriculture, according to a Ministry of the Presidency statement.

At the meeting, the statement said, it was decided that the proposals from the stakeholders will be provided by February 17th, 2017 for review and consideration.

It noted that during the meeting, requests for additional information and documents on GuySuCo were made by the opposition and the unions and the government has given the assurance that these will be provided.

Ramjattan was reported as saying that the documents should have been provided ahead of yesterday’s meeting and that government was working to correct the situation and avoid any such delays going forward.

“We are going to share those documents. We have to listen to them because they are major stakeholders and knowing the president and how he dealt with this issue in Cabinet, he would like them to get as much information and to come up with their proposals. We are going to ensure that they can get all that we possibly provide by Tuesday and they will have days to come up with their proposals. This is not a perennial negotiation. It was not intended to be like that. It is the sharing of information, sharing our proposals but we are not going to do anything until we meet with them and hear their proposals… That is why we are not going to move into anything of a decision making character until we hear their proposals,” Ramjattan was quoted as saying.

The government delegation at the meeting also included Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder, Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally and Minister within the Ministry of Finance Jaipaul Sharma, while the opposition team was led by MPs Irfaan Ali and Juan Edghill. GAWU and NAACIE were represented by their heads, Komal Chand and Kenneth Joseph, respectively. Representatives from the various sugar estates, including Wales, Albion, Skeldon, Enmore and Uitvlugt were also present, the ministry added.

The first meeting between the stakeholders was held on December 31st, 2016, based on a decision taken by Cabinet for consultations on the future of the underperforming corporation.